Dear Mayors and Police Chiefs

[FourScore]

Thu Oct 27, 2011 at 06:17 AM PDT
Dear Mayors and Police Chiefs
by brooklynbadboy

Do you see what happened in Oakland? That was what you call fucking stupid. Let me tell you why.

I had no idea that there were Occupy protests in Oakland. But I do now. Guess why.

All you all do by attacking peaceful protesters is make the protests grow even more rapidly than they otherwise would. Secondly, you end up spending a great deal of money on police overtime and equipment. Third, you make your municipality and yourselves vulnerable to lawsuits and investigations. Fourth and finally, you put yourself on the wrong side of both public opinion and history.

Bet you didn't expect to critically injure a two tour veteran Marine, did ya? Well you fucking did!

So now look at yourself. You spend a shitload of taxpayer money on some guys carrying signs and shouting slogans. Memo to you: A person carrying a sign isn't dangerous. Truly dangerous people don't walk around in public spaces carrying signs. You'd think I wouldn't have to tell you this because its so fucking obvious...

SNIP

...Here's an idea: You got occupy protesters on your public grounds? Send one squad car around. Have the guys get out, go talk to the protesters: Here's the speech:

Hi I'm Officer Dave and this is Officer Joe. We want you to be able to exercise your constitutional rights in safety. Safety for both you and the general public. Please keep this space tidy and clean or else were going to have to start issuing fines. Don't get rowdy and harass any passers-by or else we will have to arrest you. You should behave yourselves in public as im sure your parents taught you to behave. Me and my partner will be right over there if you need us. We will let you know when there is a shift change. Have a nice day.

See that? Cheap. Simple. Nobody gets hurt. Saves taxpayers money. Saves your careers.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/27/1030538/-Dear-Mayors-and-Police-Chiefs,?via=siderec

[Tsiyu]

1. When peaceful assembly is outlawed

only the Unpeaceful assemble


:kick:

[Fumesucker]

2. I disagree to an extent..

Danger is perceived in many ways and from many quarters, to the 1% the guy with the sign is truly dangerous.

It's all a matter of perspective.. And gravity, as in the elite are making moves that are as predictable as gravity, it was only a matter of time before this happened.

[LiberalFighter]

3. If only more police officers had common sense.

But too many slip in that let power go to their head.

[DLnyc]

5. More than a few slipping, I think what's happening

The main dynamic in most of these situations, in my humble opinion, and based on long observation and consideration, is a hard-core reactionary, militaristic, often racist group within the upper levels of the police department force policies (barricades, declaration of and obsessive adherence to arbitrarily harsh restrictions on free speech, etc.) that lead to escalating violence. I don't think the orders come from the banks, at least not directly. They come from right-wing elements in the command structure of the police departments who are fanatical believers in control and force. Of course, bankers typically like to have such people in the police department, since many bankers are paranoid about the 'riff-raff' taking over. So such elements tend to have benefactors (people like this don't actually have 'friends', just fair-weather fellow-travellers) in high places.

Just my theory, but I think if you watch closely, you will see it borne out over and over. Think Guiliani and Kerik, for example. Two right-wing fanatics, one of whom still manages to pull in big bucks because he's useful to the power elite, the other of whom WAS a useful idiot, but has now been thrown under the bus.

The Guiliani loyalists in the command structure of the NYPD would be the ones whose policies lead to violence. So it's not an arbitrary, random few; it's a very specific (and relatively elite) few, I think.

[coalition_unwilling]

4. Thanks for posting this - n/t

[azul]

6. Very politely yet respectfully stated.

But they expose the extent of corruption by taking violent action against lawful protests, and fuel the outrage to increase the number of protesters. Is that a good or bad thing?